The Harbour Master at Port Kembla has issued a notification of potential severe weather forecast for the next 72 hours (18-21 June). The port remains open and conditions will be monitored closely. It is likely that the Harbour Master will order the anchorage to be cleared this evening as a precaution.
A low pressure system is expected to develop over southern Queensland or the northern inland of New South Wales during Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. The low will move to the southeast and intensify into an East Coast Low system as it crosses the central or southern New South Wales coast.
Heavy rainfall and damaging winds are likely across parts of the coast, central and northern ranges, central west slopes and plains. The rain is expected to start Saturday afternoon in the northern inland, then moving towards the coast and ranges during Sunday. It is expected to clear from all areas by Monday evening.
Damaging Winds are expected from Sunday night / Monday morning for the Illawarra/South Coast, The northern coast is unlikely to get widespread damaging winds. Some damaging winds are possible if embedded thunderstorms are observed.
At this stage the potential for damaging surf to develop seem marginal due to the rapid movement offshore of the low. Any risk of coastal impacts from large waves should be confined to the far southern part of the coast.
For information about operations in Australia contact GAC Australia at shipping.australia@gac.com